U.S. Department of Justice: Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program

Deadline: February 7, 2017

The Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (SAS Culturally Specific Program) supports organizations that focus primarily on culturally specific communities and have experience in the area of sexual assault or who partner with an organization having such expertise. The goal of the SAS Culturally Specific Program is to create, maintain, and expand sustainable sexual assault services provided by culturally specific organizations, which are uniquely situated to respond to the needs of sexual assault victims from culturally specific communities.

SAS Culturally Specific Program funds may be used to support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of culturally specific intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. Mandatory program requirements for proposed activities regarding sexual assault victim services must extend beyond intimate partner sexual violence and include services to a broad range of survivors (e.g., adults abused as children, child and youth survivors, adults sexually assaulted by those other than an intimate partner such as a stranger, neighbor, family member, coworker, community leader, or clergy/spiritual leader).

Applicants that receive funding under the SAS Culturally Specific Program will be required to engage in the following intervention services and related assistance, which may include, but are not limited to:

Accompaniment and advocacy through medical, criminal justice, and social support systems, including medical facilities, police, and court proceedings

Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, and comprehensive service coordination and supervision to assist sexual assault victims and family or household members

Information and referral to assist the sexual assault victim and family or household members

Community-based, culturally specific services and support mechanisms, including outreach activities for underserved communities

Development and distribution of materials on issues related to the services offered

Applications proposing activities in the following area will be given special consideration: Increased support for underserved communities of color, in a culturally appropriate manner, with a special emphasis on African-American communities.

Amount: A total of $3,000,000 is available to award up to 11 grants that typically range from $290,000-$320,000. The project period is for three years.

Eligibility: Private nonprofit organizations for which the primary purpose of the organization as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to one or more of the following racial and ethnic communities: American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics. Applicants must meet one of the following categories as it relates to partnership requirements:

Category I: a) The applicant is a culturally specific organization; and b) the agency has a demonstrated history of providing sexual assault victim services, beyond intimate partner sexual violence, for a minimum of three years. Therefore, no partnership is required.

Category II: a) The applicant is a culturally specific organization and will be partnering with another culturally specific organization(s) that would otherwise be eligible to apply independently under the SAS Culturally Specific Program; and b) either the applicant agency or partner(s) has a demonstrated history of providing sexual assault victim services, beyond intimate partner sexual violence, for a minimum of three years.

Category III: The applicant is a culturally specific organization with less than three years of experience providing sexual assault victim services beyond intimate partner sexual violence. The applicant will be partnering with a sexual assault victim services organization that is otherwise not eligible to apply independently under the SAS Culturally Specific Program. In such a case, partner compensation is limited to $30,000 for the three-year award period. These funds should be used to provide technical assistance on sexual assault and related victim services to the applicant/lead agency.